Richmond, Ind. - Manchester picked up a hard-fought 66–63 road win over Earlham on Saturday afternoon at Druley Performance Gym.
The Spartans set the tone early, opening the game with strong interior play and multiple second-chance opportunities to take a 16–13 lead after the first quarter. Manchester's aggressive work on the offensive glass paid off throughout the game, as they finished with 20 offensive rebounds and a 46–32 overall rebounding advantage. That physical edge helped the Spartans weather ebbs and flows in a tightly contested contest that featured eight ties.
Earlham battled back in the second quarter, briefly taking the lead, but Manchester stayed composed behind balanced scoring and timely perimeter shooting.
Hailee Kline provided a steady offensive presence, knocking down three three-pointers and leading the Spartans with 14 points, while also adding five rebounds and three assists. The game was deadlocked at 29–29 late in the half before Earlham squeezed into the locker room with a two-point edge.
Manchester responded with its strongest stretch in the third quarter, outscoring Earlham 21–20.
Abi Rosenkrans and
Kayla Gibbs attacked the paint effectively, while
Hannah Holmes controlled the interior on both ends with nine points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. The Spartans' ball movement was a key factor, as they finished with 15 assists on 22 made baskets.
The final quarter was a back-and-forth battle with momentum swinging repeatedly. Earlham made several late pushes, but Manchester answered each time with steady execution at the free-throw line and crucial defensive stops.
Madysen Rees chipped in key minutes off the bench, while
Clair Klinger added seven points and steady guard play. Manchester sealed the win by going 16-of-24 at the foul line and forcing key turnovers in the final minutes.
Along with Kline's 14 points, Rosenkrans also scored 14 for Manchester, while Holmes added nine and Gibbs finished with eight points and eight rebounds. The Spartans' balanced scoring, rebounding dominance, and poise late proved to be the difference in a narrow three-point conference road victory.
